Bathtub construction



1967 v. E. GANGELHOFF 3,299,444

BATHTUB CONSTRUGT ION Filed Dec. 2, 1963 n a I mam-aw;

INVENTOR F I 3 VERNON E. GANGELHOFF BY 01W ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,299,444 BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION Vernon E. Gangelhoff, 2114 Pacina Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95116 Filed Dec. 2, 1963, Ser. No. 327,356 4 Claims. (Cl. 4-173) This invention relates to bathtubs and more particularly is concerned with a bathtub construction adapted for integration with adjacent wall and floor covering.

Bathtubs which are adapted to fit into alcove spaces so that three sides are in abutment with adjacent walls while the fourth side is open, present certain problems for the adjacent floor covering. Such tubs usually have a front enclosure which extends upward from the floor and the floor covering is carefully cut so as to fit in abutting relationship with the front enclosure. ancies between the floor covering and the front enclosure of the tub are then filled with grout, however, water frequently runs down the tub and seeps between. This causes the floor to rot and loosens the floor covering so that it must be replaced periodically.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved bathtub construction which is readily integrated with adjacent wall and floor covering.

Another object of the invention is to eliminate seepage of water between a bathtub and adjacent wall and floor covering.

A further object of the invention is to direct water, which runs down the front enclosure of a bathtub, to a drip position spaced away from joints between the tub and floor covering.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a bathtub construction which allows the floor covering to be bent upward and attached to the front enclosure of the tub without danger of water seepage at the joint.

Also an object of the invention is to provide a bathtub construction adapted for a neat floor covering installation therewith.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective of a bathtub embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse section of a tub which is of the type shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates the interrelationship of the tub, floor and floor covering.

FIG. 3 is a partial transverse tub section showing a modified flooring having an underlayment.

With reference to the drawings, a bathtub is shown in FIG. 1 having a bottom 12 and walls 14. Flanges 16 extend outwardly from the upper periphery of the walls. FIG. 2 shows a flange in abutment with a rear alcove wall 17 on one side, while on the opposite side of the tub, a front enclosure 18 extends downward from the flange.

The front enclosure 18 includes an upper portion 20, an intermediate portion 22 and a lower portion 24. The lower enclosure portion is recessed from the upper enclosure portion and the intermediate enclosure portion is inclined rearwardly upward from the lower edge 26 of the upper portion 20 to the upper edge 27 of the lower portion 24. The upward inclination of the intermediate enclosure portion prevents water, which runs down the upper enclosure portion, from following the front enclosure 18 to the lower portion. For best results, the lower enclosure portion should be recessed at least two inches from the upper enclosure portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the lower edge 26 of the upper portion 20 slopes downwardly towards the center 28 from each end 29 so that water will flow away from the end walls.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the lower portion 24 of Cracks or discrep- 3,299,444 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 "ice - the front enclosure 18 rests upon a sub-floor 30. A floor covering 32, which may be linoleum, asphalt tile or the like, is laid upon the sub-floor or an underlayment 34. A concave molding strip 36 is fixed in abutment with the lower portion 24 and the sub-floor or underlayment. The floor covering is then bent up over the molding strip and adhesively attached to the lower portion of the front enclosure. The surface of the lower enclosure portion should be rough so as to permit better bond for adhesively fixing the floor covering to the surface. The upper edge of the floor covering is behind the lower edge 26 of the upper portion 20. Thus the upper edge of the floor covering is hidden from view and therefore does not need to be cut for precise fitting.

The bathtub 10 is installed within an alcove with the flange 16 in abutment with the rear alcove wall 17 and adjacent alcove side walls, not shown. The ends 29 of the front enclosure 18 are also in abutment with the alcove side walls. The lower portion 24 of the front enclosure rests upon the sub-floor 30. The concave molding strip 36 is placed in upright abutment with the lower enclosure portion and rests horizontally upon the subfloor or underlayment 34. The use of an underlayment, as shown in FIG. 3, is preferable but not essential, as shown in FIG. 2. The floor covering 32 is then placed over the sub-floor or underlayment, bent upwardly over the molding strip 36 and adhesively fixed to the surface of the lower enclosure portion. Ends of the floor covering can also be bent upwardly and attached to the alcove side walls, not shown. The bathtub, being thus installed, is ready for use.

When bath water is drawn, condensation is likely to form on the front enclosure 18 and when the bathtub 10 is in use, water frequently runs over the walls 14 and down the front enclosure. When such water reaches the lower edge 26 of the upper enclosure portion 20, it tendsto flow towards the center 28 and away from the ends 29. When it reaches the center, it will drip directly to the floor covering 32 because of the upward inclination of the intermediate enclosure portion 22, which prevents the water from continuing to flow down the front enclosure 18. Thus water is prevented from seeping between the floor covering and the lower enclosure portion 24.

It will be understood that modifications and variations of the embodiments of the bathtub construction disclosed herein may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bathtub construction resting upon an alcove floor between side walls and having a flange extending outwardly from the top of the tub, a front enclosure extending between the side walls and from the flange to the floor, said front enclosure having an upper portion with a bottom edge, a lower portion having an upper edge recessed from said upper portion, and an intermediate portion linking the bottom edge of the upper portion with the upper edge of the lower portion, said upper portion bottom edge being inclined downwardly from the alcove side walls to a midpoint of the front enclosure so that water will flow away from the side Walls.

2. In a bathtub construction resting upon an alcove floor between side walls and having a flange extending outwardly from the top of the tub, a front enclosure extending between the side walls and from the flange to the floor, said front enclosure having an upper portion with a bottom edge, a lower portion having an upper edge recessed from said upper portion, and an intermediate portion linking the bottom edge of the upper portion with the upper edge of the lower portion, said upper portion bottom edge being inclined downwardly from the alcove side walls to a midpoint of the front enclosure so that water will flow away from the side walls, said intermediate portion being inclined upwardly towards the upper edge of the lower portion whereby water is prevented from flowing downwardly along the face of the front enclosure to the floor.

3. In a bathtub construction resting upon an alcove floor between side walls and having a flange extending outwardly from the top of the tub, a front enclosure extending between the side walls and from the flange to the floor, said front enclosure having an upper portion with a bottom edge, a lower portion having an upper edge recessed from said upper portion, and an intermediate portion linking the bottom edge of the upper portion with the upper edge of the lower portion, said upper portion bottom edge being inclined downwardly from the alcove side walls to a midpoint of the front enclosure, and a floor covering laid upon the adjacent floor and bent upwardly along the lower portion of the front enclosure recessed from said upper portion.

4. In a bathtub construction resting upon an alcove floor between side walls and having a flange extending outwardly from the top of the tub, a front enclosure extending between the side walls and from the flange to the floor, said front enclosure having an upper portion with a bottom edge, a lower portion having an upper edge re cessed from said upper portion, and an intermediate portion linking the bottom edge of the upper portion with the upper edge of the lower portion, said upper portion bottom edge being inclined downwardly from the alcove side walls to a midpoint of the front enclosure so that water will fiow away from the side walls, said intermediate portion being inclined upwardly towards the upper edge of the lower portion whereby water is prevented from flowing downwardly along the front enclosure to the floor, and a floor covering laid upon the adjacent floor and bent upwardly along the lower portion of the front enclosure extending to a point above and behind the bottom edge-of the upper portion whereby the cut edge of the floor covering is hidden from view.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,781,325 11/1930 Dowling 4l73 2,397,690 4/1946 Pawlus et al. 4l73 XR 3,028,603 4/1962 Rodman 4l73 FOREIGN PATENTS 507,425 6/1939 Great Britain.

LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner.

H. GROSS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A BATHTUB CONSTRUCTION RESTING UPON AN ALCOVE FLOOR BETWEEN SIDE WALLS AND HAVING A FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE TOP OF THE TUB, A FRONT ENCLOSURE EXTENDING BETWEEN THE SIDE WALLS AND FROM THE FLANGE TO THE FLOOR, SAID FRONT ENCLOSURE HAVING AN UPPER PORTION WITH A BOTTOM EDGE, A LOWER PORTION HAVING AN UPPER EDGE RECESSED FROM SAID UPPER PORTION, AND AN INTERMEDIATE PORTION LINKING THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE UPPER PORTION WITH THE UPPER EDGE OF THE LOWER PORTION, SAID UPPER PORTION BOTTOM EDGE BEING INCLINED DOWNWARDLY FROM THE ALCOVE SIDE WALLS TO A MIDPOINT OF THE FRONT ENCLOSURE SO THAT WATER WILL FLOW AWAY FROM THE SIDE WALLS. 